The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16

in bed, and had all her meals brought 10
her. 1t fell to Laura TO wait upon her. to
battle her face, comb her hair. and keep
the room cheerful Every day or two Doctor
Harry called; but his tonics seemed OF no
avail, except 10 give Aunt Penniman .
good appetite and keep up her spirits.
Meanwhile the bills, the billsl The milk
man, the meat man, the ice man, the grocer,
all began, though very respectfully, to ask
for their money. Mother looked anxious,
Jean lay awake nights, and Laura, poor,
pretty, innocent Laura, began to have hesd-
aches from staying in close room so mach.
And taxes were coming duel
Every day Jean went to the post-offce,
rain or shine, hoping to find letter for
Aunt Penniman from some banker or
broker. She had not received letter OF
any kind since she came among US, and We
began to wonder whether those unknown
Penniman relations had not managed to get
all her property away from her before she
left them ~ i
81 would write TO them" said to Jean in
one of her hours of despair.
And then Doctor Harry gave US new
! sensation. He said there was absolutely
nothing at all the matter with Aunt Penni-
| man, and there was danger OF her becoming
| bed-ridden and fixture for life il some-
thing was not done to rouse her. She was
in fact as we'll able as any of US to come
downstairs that very minute.
Some of mothers old resolution came
back to her at this, and showed itself by a
| sparkle in her quiet eyes
She shall come down Tomorrow she
| said, with determination. We girls Won
dered how she would manage it. But the
next morning after helping me prepare an
extra delicious breakfast, she went briskly
into Aunt Penniman's room. with a clean
cambria wrapper over her arm.
| Come, aunt" she said, in bright voice,
''I'm going to help you dress, and get you
downstairs to breakfast. Your wrens are
singing like wild in the bush by the dining
room window, and it is a lovely day. Tho
roses have blossomed, too. Mercy! How
forlorn and close this room Isl You sha'n't
be kept here another day! How surprised
the girls will be when you step into the
room as smart as everp'
And meanwhile she was helping the old
| lady out of bel and putting on her stock
| ings and slippers. We girls were indeed
surprised when Aunt Penniman, clean and
| smiling made her appearance at the
| bFeakfast-table, and from that time she was
as well as ever.
But now it was almost July. Were those
| monthly installmentS and those dividends
never comingl
who manages your property for you,
Aunt Penniman!" 1 asked boldly one even
| ing.
THE Penniman boys. Tricky fellows,
those Pennimansr' she replied, keen,
alert look springing into her eyes.
''But suppose they send you your funds
regularly!"
''Oh! they always do some time or other.
have all need she answered restlessly.
"What are their names" inquired Jean.
'Robert and James," she said. They
both had curly heads when they were little;
they were pretty boysP'
The next day a new bill came in from the
grocer, and the milkman told Jean he should
stop the milk at the end of the week, if not
paid. Aunt Penniman owed US now over
two hundred dollars. Jean told her as
delicately as she could, how were situated,
and asked if she might write to the Penni-
mans for her to hasten them little.
II guess l wouldn't to-day" said the old
lady, looking uneasy.
SO Jean waited one more day, and then,
with no more words about it, wrote to
Robert Penniman. She explained to him
how we were placed, and the terms on which
She asked him to forward whatever sums
were due from her property, and also men
toned her long illness and the doctors bill,
This was on Wednesday, and we thought
we might expect reply on Friday.
Friday was a rainy day, and Laura went
to the post-ofHce. l remember how pretty
she looked as she started, with the hood OF
her gossamer pulled over her head, and
carrying the big umbrella which Jeaa had
just mended. After she had gone we set
tied down to our different empl0yments,
scarcely noticing at first when the storm
increased and the rain came in torrents.
81 hope Laura will stop at some friends
house till the worst of it is over" said
mother, glancing at the clock.
''She will, no Doubt replied; but ever
as spoke, looking down the road saw two
figures struggling along under a big UNI
brella. Could one of them be Laural They
came nearer and nearer, driven by the
wind and beaten by the sheets Of rain. ]
saw the patch on the umbrella before !
could see the faces under it, and L ran to
open the front door. Up the steps they
came, laughing and undaunted, Laura and
young man who was an entire stranger,
though he shook hands so cordially that he
seemed at once to become friend.
am James Penniman," he said, as he
shut the umbrella and came in. Il have
come from Providence to see Aunt Betty"
She heard his voice, and started up from
her chair to welcome him.
"Why, Jimmie Pennimanr' she ex-
claimed. never was so glad to see any
one in my life! Have you come to take me
home!"
mot such rainy day as this, Aunt
Betty!' he said, laughing.
It appeared that he had come on the early
afternoon train, and had gone to the post.
Office to inquire where Mrs. Follott lived,
just as Laura came in to ask for letters.
So of course, she became his guide, and as
the wind had turned the umbrella twice
inside out on the way, it had been a very
merry and exciting walk. He soon found
an opportunity to talk privately with Jean,
and to her dismay she learned that Aunt
Penniman had no property whatever, but
was entirely dependent on her husbands
relatives, with whom she had lived for
many years. She had been very extrava-
CANT during her married life, and that, to.
gether with some unfortunate spsculations,
had swept everything away.
''And now she is just little sstray here,r
he said, tapping his forehead; but she
a dear old lady, and we think a great dea
of her. She never limited to US what she
had agreed on with you, but said she
wanted to make you long visit. OF course
we consider her our charge, aud my brother
Robert wished me to say that he should be
glad to continue the arrangement On the